fusain
[ fyoo-zeyn, fyoo-zeyn; French fy-zan ]
/ fyuˈzeɪn, ˈfyu zeɪn; French füˈzɛ̃ /
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noun, plural fu·sains [fyoo-zeynz, fyoo-zeynz; French fy-zan] /fyuˈzeɪnz, ˈfyu zeɪnz; French füˈzɛ̃/ for 2.
a fine charcoal used in drawing, made from the wood of the spindle tree.
a drawing made with this charcoal.
a blackish-gray, friable component of coal with a silky luster that leaves a charcoallike mark.
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Origin of fusain
1865–70; <French: spindle tree, charcoal made from its wood <Vulgar Latin *fūsāgīn- (stem of *fūsāgō), derivative of Latin fūsus spindle
Words nearby fusain
furunculoid, furunculosis, furunculus, fury, furze, fusain, Fusan, fusarium, fusarium wilt, fuscous, fuse
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
British Dictionary definitions for fusain
fusain
/ (fjuːˈzeɪn, French fyzɛ̃) /
noun
a fine charcoal pencil or stick made from the spindle tree
a drawing done with such a pencil
a dull black brittle form of carbon resembling charcoal, found in certain coals
Word Origin for fusain
C19: from French: spindle tree or charcoal made from it, from Vulgar Latin fūsāgō (unattested) a spindle (generally made from the spindle tree), from Latin fūsus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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